The Rebirth of a Scorned Heiress

William walked into his large, exquisite suite, one that had previously been used by the late Victoria and George team when they had an important meeting to hold.

The room service attendants dropped off his bags and bowed as they left him to his device. With an expressionless face, he walked to the centre of the room, where a glass bottle was placed in an ice bucket alongside two glass cups.

He poured himself a glass of wine as he removed his tie before standing behind the window, looking out into the city.

It’s been a month of constant hope and failure. One month of tracking through the records left behind by Victoria to find a way to unlock the software she had left behind proved to be futile as he was unable to find any clue.

Even the gadget she used while she was alive had been erased, cleaned, and left behind like a brand new one.

This was the last place for him to check before he began using an underhanded method to deal with her teammates. It was a method he never wished to use again, not after Victoria’s death and the constant bickering from his father to live up to her standards and surpass her works.

But he had no choice; it’s either he used the forsaken methods or everything they’d worked for all those years would go down the drain.

Downing the contents in the cup, William placed the cup on the window sill and removed his jacket to begin his search, praying and hoping he would not have to fall deeper into the abyss after tonight.

Meanwhile, Lily, after chatting with Mark, stood up and stretched tiredly as she eyed the packed bags on his bed. After waiting for several weeks, her request to be allowed to live outside the school hostel was finally granted, and she could not wait to stay away from this toxic space.

As she made sure everything was packed, her phone went off. “We are here,” Gary’s voice resounded through the phone immediately after she picked it up. Without wasting time, she picked up the little things she had and left the dorm without saying a final goodbye.

She met Alana halfway through the stairs, and the other beamed, “I was going to help you pack up; is this what you’ve got?” She asked.

“Yeah, this is all,” Lily replied calmly as they both went back to the waiting car. Upon arrival, Lily paused in her steps as she noticed Two Gary standing by the car, both having a staring contest, while the people around them gushed about their unique appearance and the fact that one of them was the famous Light.

Seeing people begin to take pictures of the brothers, Lily no longer increased her pace until she got to them and said, “Hey, you didn’t tell us you’d be coming to visit. Or was I the only one in the know?” She asked with a smile.

Light gave a side glance and a tight smile; it was obvious he wasn’t in a good mood, and seeing the bruise on his face, Lily could guess what had happened. “Considering your image, I don’t think it’s the right place for you to have any kind of discussion,” she voiced calmly.

“How about a visit to my studio?” She suggested, and Gary got into the packed car, followed by Light and Alana, who were lost in the situation.

As Lily, Gary, Alana, and Light made their way to Lily’s art studio, an awkward silence enveloped the car. Light, still a little surprised that he truly has a brother, kept his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside, while Gary’s hands tightened and loosened on the steering wheel with an expressionless face.

Alana, still unsure about the situation, threw curious glances at the duo and then whispered to Lily, “What’s going on? Who is he?” She asked, and Lily shrugged while making a zipper lip gesture.

As they pulled up to Lily’s studio, the tension in the car could be cut with a knife. Gary, his face stony and unreadable, was the first to exit the vehicle, followed by Lily and Alana. Light, feeling the weight of the moment, hesitated briefly before stepping out into the cool night air.

Lily led the group inside, her eyes darting between Gary and Light, searching for any sign of warmth or connection. However, Gary’s posture remained rigid, his gaze fixed firmly on the decorations that lined the walls as if he were seeing them for the first time. Light, feeling increasingly awkward, attempted to break the ice with a compliment about the studio.

“This place is amazing, Lily. I would not have been able to believe it was a startup company if I didn’t know you personally,” he complimented, and Lily smiled.

“Would you like to tour the studio?” She asked, trying to ease the atmosphere before the brothers could talk. Realising her aim, Light nodded with an appreciative smile. “I would love to,” he replied calmly.

It was truly impulsive of him to have travelled down here without informing her about his plans, but knowing how protective Lily is of her friends, he knew she would not allow him to meet Gary unless Gary agreed to it.

And there was no way he could turn a blind eye to the knowledge of having a brother. Not knowing was a different case, and now that he knew about him, he could never sit around without finding out the story behind their separation.

As Lily wrapped up her impromptu tour of the studio, she guided the group to a sitting area in the centre of the room. Gary, his face still expressionless, sat stiffly on the edge of a worn armchair, while Light perched nervously on a nearby sofa. Lily and Alana exchanged worried glances, each silently hoping that the brothers would find a way to bridge the chasm that seemed to separate them.

“So, Gary,” Light began, his voice faltering slightly. “I know it must be strange for you to meet me like this. But I wanted to tell you that I had no idea you existed until recently. Our father never mentioned you, and when I found out, I knew I had to meet you.” He explained awkwardly.

Gary’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he listened to Light’s words. “I don’t know what you’re hoping to gain from this,” he replied, his tone cold and measured. “I’ve made it clear that I want nothing to do with your father or his family. That includes you.”

Light flinched at Gary’s bluntness but pressed on, determined to make a connection. “I understand your resentment towards our father. He abandoned you, and that’s something I can’t even begin to understand. But I want you to know that I’m not here to defend him or make excuses for what he did. I just want the chance to get to know my brother.”

“It may not bring back those lost years and everything, but I want to get to know you,” he added calmly.

The silence that followed was deafening, making Lily and Alana feel awkward to be present as the two sorted out their differences. Thinking Gary would leave them hanging by not responding, Lily stood up, trying to intervene, when Gary spoke, his voice low and trembling with emotion.

“Look, Light, it’s not that I don’t appreciate you reaching out, but this isn’t easy for me. I’ve spent my entire life trying to forget about the man who abandoned me and my mother after getting what he wanted. To have you show up out of the blue, it’s just a reminder of everything I’ve tried so hard to leave behind.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“Seeing you here reminds me of the anger I’ve worked so hard to forget. I know it’s not your fault, but I don’t want to have anything to do with him or his family,” he explained coldly, sending a stab of pain into Light’s heart.

Light nodded, his own pain and disappointment etched on his face. “I get it, Gary. I won’t push you to have a relationship with me if that’s not what you want. But I hope, in time, you might be willing to give me a chance. I’m not our father, and I’d like the opportunity to prove that to you.” He spoke as he stood up to leave.

He dropped a written number on the table before Gary and patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll be in the city for a while; let’s meet sometime.”